Chris Wallace has been President/CEO of the Commission since June, 2018. Under his leadership, the NTC is quickly building its strength and capacity uniting prominent leaders to tackle the greatest challenges for our 13-county region. Today, the NTC manages the region's legislative advocacy at the state/federal levels and is a resource for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Prior to joining the NTC, Wallace served as the President/COO of the Texas Association of Business. For 10 years, he served as President/ CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber. 

Wallace graduated from Texas Tech University from the College of Media and Communications. He was named an outstanding alumnus in 2008. In 2019 and 2020, Wallace was named among Dallas' 500 most powerful business leaders in DFW by D CEO Magazine.

Dawn Miller is the Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for the efforts, results, and success of the Commission. In this role, she provides financial advice and support to help senior management make key decisions, as well as coordinate office administration and procedures, to ensure organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and safety. 

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Dawn and her husband, Doug, live in Lewisville and have three grown children. A cornerstone member of the NTC staff, Dawn has been with the organization for over 30 years.

Ashley Mergele has been with the Commission since 2019. As Director of Communications & Issue-Based Advocacy, she leads the NTC's communications strategy and response. She also develops and coordinates issue advocacy campaigns that align with and help support the organization's legislative policy efforts. 

Ashley has previously worked for the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the City of San Marcos Main Street Program. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Texas State University.

She lives in East Dallas with her mini Aussie, Winnie.

Senior Director, Stakeholder Relations & Legislative Planning

As Director of Legislative Planning and Stakeholder Relations, Patrick Brophey manages the organization's Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and the 3 Industry Councils. In addition, Patrick works closely on advocacy issues as a part of the Commission's Legislative Team. 

Patrick graduated Texas Christian University in 2018 where he studied Communication and Political Science. Patrick has experience in government and politics on the local, state, and federal levels from working in legislative offices and on local and congressional Campaigns in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Patrick lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Caitlin.

caitlyn@ntc-dfw.org

As Office Manager for the North Texas Commission, Caitlyn is responsible for managing day-to-day tasks around the office. In addition, she provides support to the executive staff, supports event staff, and helps coordinate the Leadership North Texas program. 

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Caitlyn holds a B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies from Texas Tech University. She currently resides in Frisco with her fiance, Dillon, and two dogs, Duke and Tessa.

Christopher Lee

Director, State Relations

christopher@ntc-dfw.org

469.359.5327

Christopher Lee joined the Commission in January of 2022. As Director of State Relations, he leads NTC's legislative tracking and relationships. Christopher works closely on advocacy issues as part of the Commission's Legislative Team and manages the Higher Education Committee.

Christopher graduated from the University of North Texas where he served as Student Regent in 2017. Previously he worked with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, JUUL Labs and the Texas Legislature. He brings more than five years of experience in local, state, and federal policy and politics to the NTC team. 

Christopher lives in Allen with his wife, Karen, and their German Shepherd, Maverick.

Director, Leadership Development & Diversity Programs, 

Valdez Thompson Consulting, LLC.

Linda Valdez Thompson serves as the Director of Leadership North Texas. In this role, she manages all aspects of the Commission's leadership development programming. 

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Linda brings many years of regional leadership to the Commission. Previously, she served as the Executive Vice President of Administration, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at DFW Airport. During her time at the airport, she was one of the highest-ranking Latinas in the airport industry. 

Linda has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Midwestern State University and a Masters's in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. 

Erin Gaddis

Communications Counsel & 

Strategy, Alpha Business Images, LLC

Erin Gaddis is a Senior Account Executive with Alpha Business Images and serves as an NTC's Comms Team member, assisting with media relations, communications, and member engagement.

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Erin formerly served as a Public Information Officer for FEMA's External Affairs Communication Cadre and as the CLE/Membership Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bar Association. Erin is a recent appointee to the Texas NAACP Young Adult Committee and a Dallas' BPRSA Chapter member. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Baylor University and resides in Dallas.

Policy Advisor, Transportation & Infrastructure, Montgomery Strategies

Rebecca
Montgomery

Rebecca brings over 20 years of legislative and public affairs experience to the Commission. Using her expertise, she will assist the advocacy team with policy issues related to transportation and infrastructure. 

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Prior to working with MontgomeryGR and the Commission, Rebecca served as the Senior Vice President of Advocacy at the Fort Worth Chamber. She has a Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University and a Nursing degree from Victoria College.

As Office Manager for the North Texas Commission, Caitlyn is responsible for managing day-to-day tasks around the office. In addition, she provides support to the executive staff, supports event staff, and helps coordinate the Leadership North Texas program. 

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Caitlyn holds a B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies from Texas Tech University. She currently resides in Frisco with her fiance, Dillon, and two dogs, Duke and Tessa.

Charles Luke

Dr. Charles Luke has over 35 years in business development, non-profit, and education-related work. A former Texas public school superintendents, Dr. Luke is a strong advocate for education throughout the State of Texas. He works closely with the Commission's Legislative Team to advocate for educational issues affecting North Texas. 

Dr. Luke serves as the Director of the Coalition for Education Funding, is a co-director of Pastors for Texas Children, coordinator for the Coalition for Public Schools. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Veterans Coalition of Tarrant County.

For 20 years, Jim Keffer served in the Texas House of Representatives. During his time, he served as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Economic Development, and Energy Resources Committees.

Jim currently resides in Eastland, where he is President of EBAA Iron Sales. He is a former Eastland County GOP Chair and graduate of Texas Tech University.

 He currently serves as a senior policy advisor for the North Texas Commission. In this role, he helps the Legislative Team with policy issues.

Chris Lamond brings significant experience in developing, implementing, and managing federal government relation strategies to the Commission. 

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Mr. Lamond founded Thorn Run Partners in 2010 after seven years with Ogilvy Government Relations. He has built a career representing clients before federal, state, and local governments and brings more than 20 years of experience working for and with governmental entities. 

Marc Rodriguez currently serves as one of the Commission's State Lobbyist. 

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In his work as a government relations consultant, he uses personal experience as an entrepreneur to identify with and understand his clients' industry challenges. Mr. Rodriguez has worked on state legislative issues for the last 13 consecutive Texas state legislative sessions and has a professional history of representing entities with elected and appointed boards. 

Jennifer Rodriguez currently serves as one of the Commission's State Lobbyist. 

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Jennifer represents clients and governmental entities before the Texas Legislature and regulatory agencies. She primarily focuses on her practice on local government, occupational regulation, economic development, defense contracting and technology.

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Jennifer has worked in state government and politics since 1995.